Product Description

When her comatose husband dies in the ICU while on life support, the whispers about Dr. Elena Gardner begin. Another death during her training puts her under suspicion. When the pattern is repeated in the hospital where she is attempting to start over, the whispers turn into a shout: "mercy killing."

What is the dark secret that keeps Allison's lips sealed when she should be defending herself? Despite her move to a new city, the midnight phone calls that started after her husband's death follow Elena. Who is the woman who sobs out, "I know what you did?" What does she mean by "You'll pay?" And what can Elena do to prevent it?

Two physicians, widowers themselves, offer support, telling Elena they know what she is going through after the death of her husband. But do they? And is it safe to trust either of them with her secret?

Publisher's Description

When her comatose husband died in the ICU while on life support, the whispers about Dr. Allison Williams began. Another death during her training puts her under suspicion. When the pattern is repeated in the hospital where she is attempting to start over, the whispers turn into a shout: mercy killing. What is the dark secret that keeps Allisons lips sealed when she should be defending herself? Despite her move to a new city, the midnight phone calls that started after her husbands death follow Allison. Who is the woman who sobs out, I know what you did? What does she mean by Youll pay? And what can Allison do to prevent it? Two physicians, widowers themselves, offer support, telling Allison they know what she is going through after the death of her husband. But do they? And is it safe to trust either of them with her secret?

Author Bio

Richard L. Mabry, M.D. is a retired physician who writes medical suspense with heart. His novels have won multiple awards. He and his wife live in Central Texas. You can follow Richard online at RMabry.com, as well as on Twitter (@RichardMabry), and Facebook at RMabryBooks.

Publisher's Weekly

Personal drama and spooky circumstances permeate this third and final installment of the physician-author's "Prescription for Trouble" series. When her husband is taken off life support in the hospital where she works, Elena Gardner becomes a grieving widow who must still perform her duties as doctor. A procedural blip complicates the circumstances of her husband's death and, to make matters worse, the emotionally devastated Gardner cannot recall her actions at the time of his death. Did she pull the plug on her husband? Her colleagues seem understanding, but when another patient in her care mysteriously dies, the hospital staff become suspicious. All the while, Gardner gets cryptic, threatening phone calls that follow her even when she relocates to Texas. Is Gardner at the center of these mercy killings or is someone close to her trying to sully her name? Mabry (Medical Error) crafts a tight medical drama that will have readers guessing. For fans of the gory, gritty details of patient trauma and hospital gossip, this book certainly will be an enjoyable page-turner. (Apr.) Copyright 2010 Reed Business Information.

Richard Mabry brings us his third installment in the Prescription for Trouble series. This time the drama and action take place in Dallas as well as Dainger, Texas. Dainger was introduced in the first book of the series, Code Blue, and the main character from that story appears in this third book.

Elena Gardner has only 30 days until she finishes her residency and starts her dream job of practicing family medicine. She is still reeling from the death of her husband 6 months ago and the fact that she was the one to make the decision to put a Do Not Resuscitate order on his chart after he experienced an aneurysm. The guilt she feels is overwhelming. However, there are those who whisper she might have helped her husband on his way to his demise. Elena doesn't remember shutting off the machines that kept her husband alive, but maybe she is suppressing the memory. Then, another patient she initially admits succumbs to the same fate of life support being turned off when everyone saw Elena in the room alone with the patient. He also miraculously has a Do Not Resuscitate order on his chart with her signature. Elena swears she didn't sign the order. What is going on? Is someone trying to ruin her career?

Elena depends on her one friend, David Merritt, to listen and offer her support. He wants more than friendship, but is being patient while Elena deals with her grief and these new problems. He is soon to finish his residency and begin practicing obstetrics in Dainger, Texas. Coincidentally, Elena receives an offer to practice there as well. She will be filling in for a doctor who will be out on maternity leave with the potential to join the practice as an associate. She grabs this chance after her job offer with another physician is pulled out from under her. The staff end her last 30 days early and she leaves for Dainger. Will the phone calls that come every Tuesday at midnight continue in her new town? She is hoping for a fresh start.

This story has some similarities in characters and plot to book 2 in the series, so I am lowering my rating for some lack of originality. However, the book is still worth reading as there is suspense and mystery to entertain. This is a good addition to the series. I will be reviewing the fourth book in the series here, so stay tuned for more medical suspense stories.